It is not every day you get to meet your sporting idols - let alone the two rugby league heroes you were named after.

But on Thursday afternoon, one-year-old twins Ellis and Taylor Welburn, got to meet their namesakes for the first time as Hull FC duo Gareth Ellis and Scott Taylor posed for pictures with the tots ahead of their trip to Wembley.

Ellis and Taylor's dad, Lee Welburn, 35, said his two youngest sons were named by a friend and Hull FC fan who came up with their names before last year's Challenge Cup final, which FC won.

The dad-of four said: "It was my friend who came up with the idea. He is a Hull FC fan too and they were born on the Monday ahead of the final last year so he suggested calling them Ellis and Taylor.

Scott Taylor with one-year-old Taylor

"Luckily my partner liked those names too so we went for them and FC ended up winning so it was a great week."

Mr Welburn, who has been a huge Hull FC fan all of his life, has met the Hull FC players quite a few times after matches.

He said: "They turned one on Saturday and it has been hard to take them somewhere where they can meet the players but yesterday was the perfect opportunity so we waited for just over two hours and managed to get a hold of both of them.

Gareth Ellis with one-year-old Ellis

"I had seen and spoken to both of them before so they knew the story about how they were named but it was nice for them to finally meet them both.

"The players were absolutely brilliant yesterday. Every week Scott has time for the fans and Gaz is captain so he i just the ultimate professional and a class act.

"Ellis and Taylor will always be Hull FC mad - I will drill it into them that is the only team they will support!

"But I think this is a moment which we can always look back on and it's a part of how they were named so it's going to be important for them and we hope they will treasure it."

Mr Welburn, who lives in Gipsyville, west Hull, will be travelling with girlfriend Rachel Carr and his two children Kai, five, and Mia, 13, to Wembley on Saturday. He is confident that they can claim their second successive Challenge Cup title.

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"I think they should win," he said. "It's going to be tough - Wigan are a good side but we've got as good a chance as any.

"Last year the week started off with the birth of the twins and ended with a Hull FC win. I'm hoping for the same end result this time around."